In early August 2020, forest protection authorities in Kharkiv region raised concerns about the massive dieback of maple trees. Within two weeks, foresters, specialists from "Kharkivlisozakhyst," and the Ukrainian Research Institute of Forestry and Agroforestry conducted forest pathology surveys in the Zhovtneve and Vovchansk forestry enterprises. Samples of dead branches were analyzed in the "Kharkivlisozakhyst" laboratory. The microbiological analysis confirmed that the dieback was caused by an infectious disease – verticillium wilt (caused by Verticillium albo-atrum and Verticillium dahliae fungi).

This is the first recorded case of massive maple wilt in Ukraine in over a century. The disease primarily affects Tatar, Norway, and Amur maples, as well as other tree species. Unfortunately, chemical treatments are ineffective in forest settings due to the fungi residing deep within the wood. Therefore, protective forestry methods, monitoring, and sanitation measures must be implemented to mitigate the spread.